Comet ISON is already visible through binoculars but it is set to get even brighter over the coming weeks as it makes its approach to the Sun. Here are a few pointers to observe the Comet of the Century.

The most important requirements for any successful comet viewing is a completely dark, clear, unobstructed horizon. Darkness is absolutely essential if you plan to get a good view of the tail.

Comet ISON October Skychart

On 11 November the Comet ISON will cross the orbit of Venus, and by 20 November it will be so close to the Sun that it will be almost sunrise before its head clears the horizon, so viewing it at all at this time might be challenging, demanding crystal-clear skies. By the end of the month, it should be easily seen in the eastern sky before dawn and we might just see the tail sticking up from beyond the horizon before the Sun comes up.

Comet ISON will put on its best display throughout November and December and its coma will look like a tiny ball of light set within a milky glow. From the solid part of the comet, the tiny icy nucleus is hidden within the coma, the tail (or tails!) will arc across several degrees of the sky.

Comet ISON is roughly heading towards the centre of our Solar System and it will pass within 1.2 million miles of the Sun's surface on 28th November when it reaches perihelion (the point when it's at its closest to the Sun) before being whipped around to head back roughly in the direction it came.

As ISON makes its outbound journey, it will pass over the northern hemisphere of Earth at a distance of around 40,000,000 miles on 26th December.

If ISON lives up to the hype, you could expect to see the Comet with the unaided eye anywhere between the middle of November until the middle of January 2014.

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About the Author

Tim Trott

Tim Trott is a creative photographer, traveller, astronomer and software engineer with a passion for self-growth and a desire for personal challenge.

Hi, I'm Tim Trott. I'm a creative photographer, traveller, astronomer and software engineer with a passion for self-growth and a desire for personal challenge.

This is my website, a place for me to share my experiences, knowledge and photography. I love to help people by writing articles and tutorials about my hobbies that I'm most passionate about. I hope you enjoy reading my articles as much as I enjoy writing them.